MADE BY THE RUSSIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1942, Page 3

MADE BY THE RUSSIANS

In Counter-Offensive West of Moscow BUT THREAT TO STALINGRAD REMAINS GRAVE BERLIN AND OTHER CENTRES BOMBED BY. SOVIET AIRCRAFT LONDON, August 27. Although the German thrust to Stalingrad is still extremely grave, fresh successes have been gained by the Russians in their counter-offensive west of Moscow. In that area the German stronghold of Azhev is now seriously threatened by the Russian push. Heavy fighting is going on in the streets of the town. The Germans have been ordered to defend the place at all costs. Concrete houses have been turned into fortified points, but the Russian long-range artillery is systematically pounding the defences. Nine more fortified villages have been taken by4he Russians, bringing the total to 620 inhabited localities recaptured since the start of the offensive about a fortnight ago. The Germans report Russian attacks on the Kaluga and Leningrad fronts and admit that Soviet troops have broken into the German lines at one point on the Leningrad front. All messages ’arriving from Moscow tonight stress that Stalingrad remains in grave danger. The main threat to the city is still from the north-west, though correspondents state that the Germans have now spread out almost continuously in a half 7 circle. The Germans have not made any new advance in the past 24 hours, though it is admitted that the situation remains complicated while the Germans are able to move up reinforcements. The greatest menace to the Russian forces is the swarms of German planes, which are machine-gunning and bombing Russian supply columns, In the Caucasus, the main fighting is now 80 miles west of Grozny. The Germans claim that Mozdok is in their hands but there is no confirmation of this from Moscow. Moscow reports that Russian planes bombed Berlin last night, besides Danzig, Konigsberg, and other cities in east, northeast and central Germany. Large fires and explosions occurred after the bombs were dropped. All the planes got home safely.